Automatic humidifier



April 28, 1925.

E. B. BEELER AUTOMATIC HUMIDIFIER Filed March 26, 1923 l/Vl/ENTOR ZB.BeeZer A TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES,

ES'IEN B. BEELER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC HUMDI EFIER.

Application filed March 26, 1923. Serial No. 627,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ESTEN B. BEELER,

a citizen ofithe United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Humidifiers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic humidifiers, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an automatic humidifier which is small and compact in size, so as to permit the device to be readily disposed in a show case for cigars or other articles that need an atmosphere with a certain quantity of ,water vapor therein.

the light will attract'the attention of a passer-by. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described heating element may be readily renewed at a small expense. A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the heating element consists of an electric light bulb and an electric light socket, both being of ordinary construction, whereby the heating element comprises a very small cost to the manufacturer of the device.

A further. object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the device does not have to be designed so asto conform to the heating element, but in which the device may be designed in any shape desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which has novel means for utilizing the heat generated by the electric light bulb for changing the water into water vapor.

A further object of my invention is to b which makes use of an ordinary electric light for a heating element, whereby the A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is adapted to instantly give off water vapor as soon as the light is energized, even though the main body of the water is cold.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the vaporizing medium consists of'a wick that is disposed about the electric light, the light being adapted to give off enou h heat to instantly change the water in t e saturated wick into water vapor, but in which the heat given off b the light is not suificient to burn the wic after the wick has become dried. 9

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described, in which the water retaining arts are stamped out, thereby providing .a evice which may e manufactured at slight expense.

Other objects and advantages'will appear 'in the following specification, andthe novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this ap plication, in which- The figure is a vertical section through the device, portions thereof being shown in elevation.

In carrying out my invention, I make use 7 of an electric light socket 1 which consists of two parts, these parts being screwed together in the ordinary manner, and clamping a base portion 2 therebetween. The base 2 is of the shape shown in the drawing, but may be of any other shape desired. The base carries the lightsocket 1. It will be noted from the drawing that the upper member of the socket 1 is received in a recess 3 of the\base 1'. This construction disposes the top of' the base flush with the top of the socket 1.

I have found that an electric light, if surrounded by a saturated wick is adapted to change the water contained in the wick into Water vapor. In the present form of the device,,I have shown an electric light bulb 4; as being relatively long and narrow, but it is obvious that any other shape of bulb desired may be used. The light 4. is carried by the socket 1 and is in electrical connection with a thermostatic switch 5 of ordlnary construction. The switch 5 is shown diagrammatically in the drawing. Since the heating manner. It is obvious that by using a light of one of the many designs now on the market, I can fashion the base that surrounds the light into any shape I desire. In this manner I can change the design of the device in various ways.

The light 4 serves a.,triple function in the device, i. e., it acts as a heating element for changing the water into water vapor, it acts as a support for the hood which distributes the water vapor, and it acts as a signal for attracting the attention of passers-by. A

wick 6 is disposed about the light 4 so as to be readily heated when the light is energized. The wick 6 has its lower end disposed in a reservoir 7. The reservoir is adapted to hold water, this water being drawn up into the' upper portion of the wick by capillary attraction. The water in the upper portion of the wick 6 is readily chan ed into water Vapor by the heat of the light 4. It will be noted that the reservoir 7 has a central portion 8 that has its upper end extending above the top of the reservoir 7. This tubular portion 8 receives the light 4 and positions the reservoir 7 with respect to the base 2. It will be noted that only the upper edge of the tubular portion 8 engages with the light 4. The wall of the tubular portion 8 is spaced from the light 4 so as to provide a dead air space between the light and the wick. It will therefore be apparent that the lower portion of the wick will not be heated to the same extent as is the upper portion. The water in the reservoir 7 will therefore remain cool. i

The light 4, as heretofore stated, also acts as a supporting member for-a hood 9. The hood is cup-shaped and has a tubular portion 10 which is adapted to receive the upper end of the light 4. The light 4 prevents lateral movement of the hood. with respect to the reservoir 7. downwardly on the light 4 until the upper end of the wick 6 abuts the undersurface of the hood. The hood 9 is adapted to cause the water vapor to flow uniformly from the peripheral edge of the hood. In this man- The hood 9 will move upper end of the shell 11 extends to the hood 9, so as to hide the portion of the wick that is disposed between the top'of the reservoir 7'and the bottom of the hood 9.

The light 4 not only acts as a heating element, and as a positioning member for the hood 9, but also acts as a signal to attract the attention of the passer-by. It will be noted from the drawing that a portion of the light extends above the tubular por tion 10 of the hood 9. This portion of the light resembles a' small globe which may be intermittently lighted by means of the switch 5 or be continuously lighted when the switch 5 is not used. The base 2, the reservoir 7, the shell 11, and the hood 9, are preferably made of aluminum or some other material which may be highly polished so as to provide an ornamental device which makes a pleasing appearance to the eye.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, 'the ioperat-ion thereof may be readily understood. The metal parts of the device are adapted to be stamped out, whereby they may be made at a slight expense. As heretofore stated, the heating element consists of a light 4 and can be purchased'at a small cost. The metal parts are readily assembled to the light in the manner heretofore described.

When using the device, the reservoir 7 is filled with water to any depth desired. The wick 6 will soon become saturated due to capillary attraction. The water in the upper portion of the wick may now be changed into water vapor by merely lighting the light 4. As fast as the water in the upper portion of the wick is changed into water vapor, more watertakes the place of the water thus used. This operation will continue until the supply of water is exhausted. The flashing of the light instantly attracts the attention of the passer-by, and affords novel means for advertising. If desired, the upper surface of the hood 9 can have advertising matter printed thereon.

I claim:

A humidifier comprising a base, an electric light carried by said base, a water containing reservoir carried by said'base, and encircling said light, a centrally disposed sleeve carried by said reservoir and receiving said light, said sleeve keeping the water from contacting with said li ht, an aba cylindrical portion which permits the sorbent sleeve disposed aroun said first light to project thereabove, whereby said named sleeve and extending above said first light when energized changes the water in named sleeve but terminating short of the said absorbent sleeve into Water vapor and 5 t0pof said light, a cylindrical member enalso attracts the attention of the passer-by.

closing said absorbent sleeve, and a hood carried by said absorbent sleeve and having ESTEN B. BEELER. 

